Tassie NBN 2nd release sites build begins

Summary:Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has welcomed the commencement of construction at the second release sites in Tasmania for the National Broadband Network (NBN) today, with construction commencing last month as scheduled, according to NBN Co.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has welcomed the commencement of construction at the second release sites in Tasmania for the National Broadband Network (NBN) today, with construction commencing last month as scheduled, according to NBN Co.

In April, it was announced that Triabunna, Sorell, Deloraine, St Helens, Kingston Beach, George Town and South Hobart would be the next sites in Tasmania to receive the NBN, with the roll-out to cover approximately 11,150 premises.

NBN Co will be using a staged approach to construction between the five sites, which is expected to be completed in October. While construction was set to start at the end of May, Conroy only today welcomed the start of construction in Sorrell.

"The Gillard Government is getting on with the job of delivering enhanced broadband services to Tasmania, which has traditionally had the lowest proportion of households with broadband access," Conroy said.

The other stage two communities were set to start soon, except for Triabunna, where, NBN Co told ZDNet Australia, construction is already underway.

"Construction is underway in Triabunna after a period of make-ready work," NBN Co said. "Make-ready work has been underway in Sorrell for some time."

NBN Co is trialling a "network extension process" in the areas around the second release sites that would allow councils outside of the fibre footprint to pay additional costs to have fibre rolled out to them, rather than being served by fixed-wireless or satellite. However, CEO Mike Quigley has warned that the costs to roll out fibre to those areas may be prohibitively expensive for the councils.